Too often we find lost dogs showing up in local shelters more around the Fourth of July holiday than any other time of year. Whether your neighbor’s kids are firing roman candles in the street or your entire community is enjoying the local fireworks display, your pet can become panic-stricken and run away in search of a territory that they’ll feel safe in. According to national statistics, there is a 30-60% increase in lost pets each year during the national holiday, between July 4th and 6th. This makes a busy couple days for the shelters with the amount of lost dogs being turned in. Mark Jakubczak, Certified Pet Detective and Founder of PetAmberAlert, sadly explains that roughly 14% of lost pets are returned to their owners according to those statistics.

Simple ways you can keep your pet safe from frantically acting out are the following:

1. Stay Inside

—– Keeping them inside during the holiday will reduce risk of an escaped pet, ideally with someone they live with or know fairly well. If you have plans outside that include your pet, try keeping them leashed

2. Make them feel safe

—– Comfort them with petting, hugging, or talking in a soft voice while providing them with a treat of their personal favorite. More popular treats include beef flavored chewables, bacon strips or Greenies dental chews. You could also ask your local veterinarian for an natural calming supplements., like “Composure.”

3. Avoid the noise

—– Drowning out the fireworks as much as possible might play an important role in the house. Try closing windows, playing music or turning on the TV.